1. Home
  2. Dictionary
  3. Lay

Definition of Lay in English :

Define Lay in English

Lay meaning in English

Meaning of Lay in English

Pronunciation of Lay in English

Lay pronunciation in English

Pronounce Lay in English

Lay

see synonyms of lay

Noun

1. ballad, lay

a narrative song with a recurrent refrain

2. ballad, lay

a narrative poem of popular origin

Verb

3. lay, place, pose, position, put, set

put into a certain place or abstract location

Example Sentences:
'Put your things here'
'Set the tray down'
'Set the dogs on the scent of the missing children'
'Place emphasis on a certain point'

4. lay, put down, repose

put in a horizontal position

Example Sentences:
'lay the books on the table'
'lay the patient carefully onto the bed'

5. lay

prepare or position for action or operation

Example Sentences:
'lay a fire'
'lay the foundation for a new health care plan'

6. lay

lay eggs

Example Sentences:
'This hen doesn't lay'

7. lay

impose as a duty, burden, or punishment

Example Sentences:
'lay a responsibility on someone'

Adjective

8. laic, lay, secular

characteristic of those who are not members of the clergy

Example Sentences:
'set his collar in laic rather than clerical position'
'the lay ministry'

9. lay

not of or from a profession

Example Sentences:
'a lay opinion as to the cause of the disease'

WordNet Lexical Database for English. Princeton University. 2010.

Lay

see synonyms of lay
verbWord forms: lays, laying or laid (leɪd ) (mainly tr)
1. 
to put in a low or horizontal position; cause to lie
to lay a cover on a bed
2. 
to place, put, or be in a particular state or position
he laid his finger on his lips
3. (intransitive) not standard
to be in a horizontal position; lie
he often lays in bed all the morning
4. (sometimes foll by down)
to establish as a basis
to lay a foundation for discussion
5. 
to place or dispose in the proper position
to lay a carpet
6. 
to arrange (a table) for eating a meal
7. 
to prepare (a fire) for lighting by arranging fuel in the grate
8. (also intr)
(of birds, esp the domestic hen) to produce (eggs)
9. 
to present or put forward
he laid his case before the magistrate
10. 
to impute or attribute
all the blame was laid on him
11. 
to arrange, devise, or prepare
to lay a trap
12. 
to place, set, or locate
the scene is laid in London
13. 
to apply on or as if on a surface
to lay a coat of paint
14. 
to impose as a penalty or burden
to lay a fine
15. 
to make (a bet) with (someone)
I lay you five to one on Prince
16. 
to cause to settle
to lay the dust
17. 
to allay; suppress
to lay a rumour
18. 
to bring down forcefully
to lay a whip on someone's back
19. vulgar, slang
to have sexual intercourse with
20. slang
to bet on (a horse) to lose a race
21. 
to press down or make smooth
to lay the nap of cloth
22. 
to cut (small trunks or branches of shrubs or trees) halfway through and bend them diagonally to form a hedge
to lay a hedge
23. 
to arrange and twist together (strands) in order to form (a rope, cable, etc)
24. military
to apply settings of elevation and training to (a weapon) prior to firing
25. (foll by on) hunting
to put (hounds or other dogs) onto a scent
26.  another word for inlay
27. (intr; often foll by to or out) dialect or informal
to plan, scheme, or devise
28. (intransitive) nautical
to move or go, esp into a specified position or direction
to lay close to the wind
29.  lay aboard
30.  lay a course
31.  lay bare
32.  lay hands on
33.  lay hold of
34.  lay oneself open
35.  lay open
36.  lay siege to
noun
37. 
the manner or position in which something lies or is placed
38. vulgar, slang
a. 
an act of sexual intercourse
b. 
a sexual partner
39. 
a portion of the catch or the profits from a whaling or fishing expedition
40. 
the amount or direction of hoist in the strands of a rope
adjective
1. 
of, involving, or belonging to people who are not clergy
2. 
nonprofessional or nonspecialist; amateur
noun
1. 
a ballad or short narrative poem, esp one intended to be sung
2. 
a song or melody
verb
the past tense of lie2

Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers

Lay

see synonyms of lay
verb transitiveWord forms: laid or ˈlaying
1. 
to cause to come down or fall with force; knock down, as from an erect position
a blow laid him low
2. 
to cause to lie; place or put so as to be in a resting or recumbent position; deposit
often with on or in
lay the pen on the desk
3. 
a. 
to put down or place (bricks, carpeting, etc.) in the correct position or way for a specific purpose
b. 
to cause to be situated in a particular place or condition
the scene is laid in France
c. 
to establish or prepare as a basis or for use
to lay the groundwork
d. 
to arrange the fuel in a fireplace for (a fire)
4. 
to place; put; set
esp. of something abstract
to lay emphasis on accuracy
5. 
to produce and deposit (an egg or eggs)
6. 
a. 
to cause to subside or settle
lay the dust
b. 
to allay, suppress, overcome, or appease
to lay a ghost, lay one's fears
7. 
to press or smooth down
to lay the nap of cloth
8. 
to bet (a specified sum, etc.)
9. 
to impose or place (a tax, penalty, etc. on or upon)
10. 
to work out; devise
to lay plans
11. 
to prepare (a table) for a meal; set with silverware, plates, etc.
12. 
to advance, present, or assert
to lay claim to property, to lay a matter before the voters
13. 
to attribute; ascribe; charge; impute
to lay the blame on someone
14. 
to arrange and twist together (strands) so as to form (rope, yarn, etc.)
15.  US, Slang
to have sexual intercourse with
16.  Military
to aim (a gun) by adjusting its direction and elevation
verb intransitive
17. 
to lay an egg or eggs
18. 
to bet; wager
19. 
to lie; recline
a dialectal or substandard usage
20.  Dialectal
to get ready; plan
laying to rob a store
21.  Nautical
to go; proceed
all hands, lay aft to the fantail!
noun
22. 
the way or position in which something is situated or arranged
the lay of the land
23.  US
a share in the profits of some enterprise, esp. of a whaling expedition
24. 
the direction or amount of twist of the strands of a rope, cable, etc.
25.  US, Informal
terms of employment, a sale, etc.
26.  US, Slang
a. 
an instance of sexual intercourse
b. 
a person regarded as a sexual partner
27.  Chiefly British, Slang
one's occupation, esp. as a criminal
adjective
1. 
of or consisting of the laity, or ordinary people, as distinguished from the clergy
2. 
not belonging to or connected with a given profession; nonprofessional
a legal handbook for lay readers
verb intransitive
pt. of
lie1
noun
1. 
a short poem, esp. a narrative poem, orig. for singing as by a medieval minstrel
2.  Obsolete
a song or melody

Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.

Lay

see synonyms of lay
v. laid (lād), lay·ing, lays
v.tr.
1. To cause to lie down: lay a child in its crib.
2.
a. To place in or bring to a particular position: lay the cloth over the painting.
b. To bury.
3. To cause to be in a particular condition: The remark laid him open to criticism.
4. To put or set down: lay new railroad track.
5. To produce and deposit: lay eggs.
6. To cause to subside; calm or allay: "chas'd the clouds ... and laid the winds" (John Milton).
7. To put up to or against something: lay an ear to the door.
8. To put forward as a reproach or an accusation: They laid the blame on us.
9. To put or set in order or readiness for use: lay the table for lunch.
10. To devise; contrive: lay plans.
11. To spread over a surface: lay paint on a canvas.
12. To place or give (importance): lay stress on clarity of expression.
13. To impose as a burden or punishment: lay a penalty upon the offender.
14. To present for examination: lay a case before a committee.
15. To put forward as a demand or an assertion: laid claim to the estate.
16. Games To place (a bet); wager.
17. To aim (a gun or cannon).
18.
a. To place together (strands) to be twisted into rope.
b. To make in this manner: lay up cable.
19. Vulgar Slang To have sexual intercourse with.
v.intr.
1. To produce and deposit eggs.
2. To bet; wager.
3. Nonstandard To lie.
4. Nautical To put oneself into the position indicated.
n.
1.
a. The direction the strands of a rope or cable are twisted in: a left lay.
b. The amount of such twist.
2. The state of one that lays eggs: a hen coming into lay.
3. Vulgar Slang
a. Sexual intercourse.
b. A partner in sexual intercourse.
adj.
1. Of, relating to, or involving the laity: a lay preacher.
2. Not of or belonging to a particular profession; nonprofessional: a lay opinion as to the seriousness of the disease.
n.
1. A narrative poem, such as one sung by medieval minstrels; a ballad.
2. A song; a tune.
v.
Past tense of lie1.

The American Heritage ® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2018 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

WORD OF THE DAY

usury

FIND OUT WHAT IT MEANS

Recent Searches